In March 2011, Hutson told the Sturgis Township Board that there have been ag sales in excess of $7,000 an acre recorded in the county.

Hutson also said, the average price of an acre of farmland in 2010 was $5,500.

"There has been no difference whether the land is irrigated or nonirrigated," Hutson said. "That's because in this county, it's so easy to put in irrigation."

Fawn River officials are also looking into Michigan's Right to Farm Act to learn the definition of intensive livestock operations.

Using a 40-acre farm as an example, trustee John Blanhard said he obtained Right to Farm information and he's trying to interpret how many animals would be permitted per acre by state law.

Although no one in the township has inquired about having an intensive livestock operation, supervisor Dick Yesh said the township wants to be prepared. The township board wants to know if zoning can control where barns are built on a 40-acre tract.